US Midwest: Quilting Retreat Centers and Events

Are you looking for that perfect place to gather your quilting friends for a getaway to sew, chat, and laugh? (Oh yeah, eat and sleep sometimes too!)

I'm gathering information about quilt retreats in these Midwestern states:  Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Listings I have found are shown below, but watch this site for more to come!

Do you know of a great retreat center or event for quilters?  Recommend a retreat.

And take a few minutes to explore all of the pages on this site, where you'll find:

• Fun ideas for retreats, such as activities, games, local tours, and, of course, treats!

• Cute, clever quilter T-shirts, tote bags, and other gifts for yourself and your quilting friends--including real men who quilt!

• Recommended quilting books with great retreat projects.

• A place to share your ideas and tips for creating a terrific retreat experience.

Thanks for visiting this guide and Happy Quilting!

Janice King

"I'd Rather be Quilting" wouldn't you? Apron, mousepad, coffee mug, tshirt and more.

 

 

Quilters Retreats by State

Illinois

• Danville: Threads and Beds Retreat. A specially designed retreat center for large groups or smaller groups want to share space. Large work rooms designed for quilting; limited cooking facilities. Connected to a large fabric store. Maximum 36 guests.

• Orangeville: Memory Lane Crafting Retreat. Farmhouse converted to a center for weekend group retreats. Includes fully equipped kitchen and workroom that overlooks a pond in a country setting. Maximum 9 guests.

• Tonica: Kishauwau on the Vermillion. Renovated luxury cabin in a former scouting camp for group retreats. Large great room with work tables, full kitchen, near four state parks. Maximum 14 guests.

Indiana

• Fortville: Creative Hideaway. A retreat facility for groups with a large work room and meals included. WiFi Internet access and optional spa services also available. Maximum 13 guests.

• Lafayette: Miss Mary's Quilting Cottage. Historic home available for group retreats, located next door to a quilt shop. The home includes a full kitchen. Minimum 4 guests, maximum 8 guests.

• Lafayette: Cheryl's Quilt Shop. A group retreat facility in a quilt shop, available for overnight or day use by 2-5 guests. Includes a refrigerator and microwave; nearby restaurants. Also sponsors weekend retreat events at the Pine View Resort in Monticello, Indiana.

• Nappanee: Victorian Guest House. Historic bed and breakfast in Amish country available for group retreats. Quilt shop located in the building. Minimum 6/maximum 12 guests.

• Quincy: The Retreat Campus. Private, Christian-focused residence in a country setting that has been converted for small group retreats. Grounds include a pond and cabins; fully equipped kitchens.

Iowa

• Bedford: Farmers Dotter Quilt Retreat. Group retreats for up to 9 people in a country home. Near a small town with several antique shops.   

• Guttenberg: Sew Many Memories Retreat Center. Group retreat center in a restored historic hotel. Home-cooked meals, resource library and on-site supply store. Maximum 8 guests.

• West Des Moines: Walnut Place Retreat. Historic home converted to a center for group retreats. Three work rooms and complete kitchen for preparing your own meals. Quilting and scrapbooking stores nearby. Maximum 12 overnight or 18 day guests.

 

Plan your retreat travels to see how painted quilts have become a folk art phenomenon in Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement, full of fascinating stories and beautiful photographs.

 

 

Kansas

• McPherson: Maple Memories. A 1905 House with a kitchen to prepare your own meals, dining room, exercise/massage room and several work spaces. Also offers a message board for individuals and groups to connect. One block from historic downtown. Maximum 12 guests

Michigan

• Caseville: The Lodge at Oak Pointe. Al large B&B with two common areas for groups of 10-16 sewers. The lodge features walking trails, whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, and screened porches for relaxation. 

• Hillman: Thunder Bay Resort. Retreat events with nationally-known quilting teachers. Resort accommodations and events such as a gourmet dinner and wine tasting. 

Minnesota

• Becker: Cameorose Country Retreat. A private home turned retreat center, set on 55 acres with a dedicated craft room, gardens, an outdoor pool, fireplace, game room, and full kitchen. Maximum 8-12 guests.

• Cloquet: Gingerbread House Craft Retreat. Farmhouse converted to a group retreat center. Workroom includes two design boards & scrapbooking equipment. Full kitchen; near quilt and antique shops. Maximum 8 guests.

• Farwell: Elm Creek Lodge. Log home style retreat center, located on a creek and with a view of woodlands and a lake. Full kitchen, workroom, and near a fabric/craft store. Minimum 4, maximum 10 guests.

• Garden City: Red Barn Retreats. Barn-style retreat center in a rural setting. Large workspace, full kitchen, and access to a long-arm quilting machine. Maximum 10 guests.

• Lake City: Dragonfly Dreams Retreat Center. Victorian-style home converted to a small group retreat center. Full kitchen and laundry; family room with fireplace; craft room; nearby shops. Minimum 4, maximum 8 guests.

Missouri

• Beaufort: St. Louis Star Inn. Private home on wooded acreage converted to a center for group retreats. Owned by an award-winning quilter, teacher, and designer. Includes home-cooked meals; private workshops and project help available for an additional fee. Maximum 6 guests.
  

 

"Love Me, Love My Fabric Stash"
Here's the perfect quilter's tote bag for treasures!

 

Nebraska

• Ashland: Carol Joy Holling Center. A Lutheran-affiliated facility that sponsors multi-day retreat events throughout the year.

• Fremont: Calvin Crest Camp, Conference and Retreat Center. A large, Christian-oriented center with a variety of facilities for groups up to 300. Includes meals in a full-service dining hall and many recreation opportunities on the center's 250 acres overlooking the Platte River.  

• Maxwell: Maranatha Quilter's Weekend. Weekend retreat events, open for individual registration, held at Maranatha Bible Camp. Motel-style or dorm-style housing; meals included. Focus on individual projects.

North Dakota

Ohio

• Somerset: Zane Trace Inn and Craft Farm. Two residential facilities, one in town and one in the country, with extensive amenities for group retreats. Meals available as an option. Maximum 9-12 guests.

Oklahoma

• Barnsdall: Red Barn Quilting Education and Retreat Center. Custom-designed group retreat center with on-site quilt shop and lumbar machines available for rental use. Dorm-style lodging, full kitchen, laundry, full meal service, optional classes. Maximum 9 guests.

South Dakota

• Canton: Canton Quilt Corner. A facility for group retreats located above a quilt shop in an historic red granite building. Full kitchen and workroom furnishings. Maximum 15 guests for overnight or day retreats.

Texas

• Galveston: Galveston's Red Victorian. Group retreats in a restored 1867 home near the beach. Weekend bookings included all meals. Minimum 8, maximum 12 guests.

• Galveston: Applique Away. Weekend retreat event focused on applique classes; open for individual registration. Held in an historic hotel near the attractions of Galveston Island. Includes lodging, some meals, classes & special events.

Wisconsin

• Amery: Twin Maples Retreat. Private home converted to a center for small-group retreats. Includes a work studio, fully equipped kitchen, Internet access, indoor and outdoor fireplaces. Minimum 4, maximum 8 guests.

• Augusta: Bridge Creek Cottage. Homestyle retreat center for large groups. Full kitchen or catering available; large craft room; decks and living room spaces. In Amish country with nearby shops. Maximum 20 guests.

• Colfax: Meadow Ridge Cottages. Two newly constructed cottages for small group retreats with large craft room, full kitchen, and laundry. Catering available; quilting and crafting stores nearby. Minimum 6, maximum 12 guests.

• DeSoto: A Place to Sew. Two group retreat houses with Mississippi River views from large porches.  Also available for stitching and scrapbooking groups.  Near quilt and crafts stores in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. 
  

• Fontana: Heritage House. Apartment-style accommodations with the workroom for group retreats. Each apartment has its own kitchen, living room, fireplace, deck. Maximum 18 guests.

• Fountain City: HNL Farms. Two retreat houses on a large farm for retreats by quilting and scrapbooking groups. Fully stocked kitchen for cooking your own meals; WiFi and 24-hour work rooms. Maximum 18 guests.  

• Mount Horeb: Magnolia Ridge Hideaway. private residence converted to a retreat center in a country setting. Large workroom, great room, and kitchen. Minimum 6/maximum 24 guests.

• Osseo: Camp Cotton Quilting Retreat. A commercial building renovated as a retreat center; offers group retreats and weekend retreats open for individual registration. Very large sewing room, WiFi, fully equipped kitchen, nearby restaurants. Maximum 18 guests.

• Reedsburg: A Great Place to Be. Large Victorian home renovated as a small-group retreat center. Kitchen, laundry, sitting room and wraparound porch. Restaurants and shops. Minimum 3, maximum 10 guests.

• Verona: Two Chatelaines Farm. Farmhouse on a working farm that has been converted to a group retreat center. Walking trails on the property; work room, laundry, and kitchen for light cooking. Maximum 8 guests.

 

 

Looking for quick, easy projects for your retreat?
Check out these quilt retreat ideas.

No retreat is complete without a t-shirt!
Order cute, quilt-themed clothing and quilter's gifts.